Schlumbergera plant named ‘PKMSchl03’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Schlumbergera truncata  (Haworth) Moran hybr. plant named ‘PKMschl03’, characterized by its dense growth habit and intense orange-colored flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMSchl03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Schlumbergera plant, botanically known as Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr., common name Christmas Cactus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘PKMSchl03’.

The new Schlumbergera is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Søhus, Denmark. The new Schlumbergera originated from an outcrossing made in 2002 by the Inventor between two proprietary, unnamed cultivars of Schlumbergera truncata hybr. The Inventor selected the new Schlumbergera cultivar from the progeny of the above crossing in 2004 on the basis of its flower color and compact, freely branching habit. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more upright and compact, and have a more intense orange flower color than comparison cultivars.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by phylloclade cuttings taken and propagated and trial production batches in Søhus, Denmark, has shown that the unique features of this new Schlumbergera are stable and reproduce true to type in many successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PKMSchl03’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PKMSchl03’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Orange-red flowers (Corolla lobe RHS N30B and corolla tube         RHS N66C, red-purple);     -   2. Bud color;     -   3. Large upright to vertical flowers;     -   4. Moderately vigorous growth habit;     -   5. Higher number of flowers per plant.

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSchl03’ can be compared to plants of the Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr. cultivar ‘PKM01 1001F’ (Unpatented in US; registered as CPVO Grant No. 23127). However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted over several seasons by the inventor in Søhus, Denmark, plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSchl03’ and the cultivar ‘PKM01 1001F’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have darker, redder flowers,         buds, and ovary than plants of the cultivar ‘PKM01 1001F’.     -   2. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have smaller and more         phylloclades than plants of the cultivar ‘PKM01 1001F’.     -   3. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have phylloclades with         smaller teeth than plants of the cultivar ‘PKM01 1001F’.

Data regarding the parent varieties is no longer available for comparison with the claimed variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and details of flower form color and structures of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the claimed variety. Plants in the photos are about 12 months old.

FIG. 1—shows a typical plant of ‘PKMSchl03’ as grown in a 9 cm pot.

FIG. 2—shows a typical flower and phylloclade of ‘PKMSch103’.

FIG. 3—shows typical buds of ‘PKMSchl03’.

FIG. 4—shows a typical plant of ‘PKMSchl03’ in comparison with two other Schlumbergera varieties, as grown in 9 cm pots.

FIG. 5—shows a typical flower and phylloclade of ‘PKMSchl03’ in comparison with a typical flower and phylloclade from two other Schlumbergera varieties.

FIG. 6—shows typical buds of ‘PKMSchl03’ in comparison with typical buds from a comparison Schlumbergera variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSchl03’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition, where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions. Plants used for this description are about 12 months old.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.         -   Variety denomination.—‘PKMSchl03’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Single mature phylloclades.         -   Form.—Perennial plant (epiphyte), plants have an upright             shape and branched growth habit. Flowers singular, double,             or triple at apical ends of terminal phylloclades. Freely             branching with one to three new phylloclades forming at the             apical ends of older phylloclades.         -   Time to initiate roots.—2-3 weeks at 21° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Fibrous, well-branched.         -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 12 months are required to             produce finished flowering plants in 9 cm pots. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant, 3 levels of             phylloclades, excl. flowers).—About 13 cm.         -   Vigor.—Good.         -   Growth rate.—Slow.         -   Plant spread.—18-20 cm.         -   Lateral branch length.—(3 levels of phylloclades): 12 cm.         -   Lateral branch width.—2.5 to 3.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch color.—RHS NN137A.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Lateral branch arrangement and aspect.—Freely branching with             one to three new phylloclades forming at the apical ends of             older phylloclades. -   Phylloclades:     -   -   Quantity per lateral branch.—10-14.         -   Length.—3.5 to 4.5 cm.         -   Width.—2.5 to 3.5 cm.         -   Thickness.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Truncate with 2 protruding marginal teeth, 3-4 mm in             length. Barbellulate with 10-15 short bristles.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Serrate, 2-4 teeth per phylloclade, 2-4 mm in             length.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Color.—RHS NN137A, Green.         -   Venation pattern.—Costate.         -   Venation color.—RHS NN137C, Green. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming season.—October to December in the Northern             hemisphere. Can be changed with short day treatments.             Flowers appear 8-9 weeks after end of short day treatment.         -   Longevity on plant.—Highly dependent on temperature and             light conditions; generally 5 to 6 days. Flowers are             persistent.         -   Buds.—Aspect: Upright to outward. Number: 1-3 buds per             lateral branch. Length: Up to 3.5 cm before unfolding of             tepals. Diameter: Up to 1.5 cm before unfolding of tepals.             Shape: Ovoid to lanceolatoid. Color: RHS N57B, red-purple in             small (˜1 cm) buds; RHS 40B in larger (˜3 cm) buds.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: 1-3 sessile flowers on apical             phylloclades (per lateral branch). Shape and form:             Zygomorphic; tubular with lobes (tepals) extruding at base             and at tube end. Tepal Arrangement: Inner whorl of tepals             fused to form a tube. Corolla tepals are initially at right             angle to tube, later somewhat reflexed. Tepal Number: 10 in             fused inner whorl forming the tube; 5-7 more or less free             tepals in outer whorl. Tepal Shape: Narrow Ovate. Tepal             Margin: Entire. Tepal Apex: Apiculate. Tepal Length:             30-35 mm. Tepal Width: 10 mm. Tube Diameter: 10-12 mm.             Maximal Flower Diameter: 6 cm. Tube Depth: 3 cm. Tube Shape:             Tubular. Maximal Flower Depth: 6.5 cm. Texture: Silky.             Color: When opening, upper side: lobes RHS N30B, Orange-red.             When opening, under side: lobes RHS 169A, Greyed-orange;             tube RHS 71D, red-purple. Fully opened, upper side: lobes             RHS 169A, Greyed-orange; tube RHS 71D, red-purple. Fully             opened, under side: lobes RHS 169A, Greyed-orange; tube RHS             71D, red-purple. Tepal color fading: No fading. A             pinkish-red ring at the upper end of the tube. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: Many (80-100 per flower), polyandrous,             phaneranherous. Shape: Incurved. Some filaments fused to             perianth tube (connate). Color: RHS 11C, Yellow.         -   Anther.—Shape: Basifixed; ovoid. Color: RHS 11C, yellow.             Length: 1-2 mm. Pollen: Plenty; color RHS 11D yellow.         -   Filament.—Length: 5-7 cm. Color: RHS 155D, translucent             white.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1. Length: 55 mm. Shape: Slightly curved.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Claw-like. Color: RHS 71A, red-purple.         -   Style.—Color: RHS 71A, red-purple. Length: 65 mm.         -   Ovary.—Color: RHS 144A, yellow green. Shape: Obovate to             Turbinate; can have 4 small wings. Length: 9-11 mm. Width:             8-10 mm. -   Seeds: None observed. -   Weather tolerance: Tolerant to a high temperature of 40° C. and a     low temperature of 2° C. -   Disease/pest resistance: Not tested. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Schlumbergera plant named ‘PKMSchl03’, as illustrated and described herein. 